WASHINGTON – A federal judge Friday extended the term of the grand jury that has weighed evidence in the Russia investigation headed by Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller.

Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell extended the panel's 18-month term that was set to expire in the coming days.

The panel, whose deliberations are secret, was seated for its regular term in July 2017.

It was not immediately clear whether the extension represented a perfunctory measure to keep the panel intact during what was expected to be the final stages of the inquiry or if the action signaled a more prolonged period of investigation.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the investigation, which he has described as a "witch hunt."

At the same time, former members of his inner circle – including former national security adviser Michael Flynn, former personal attorney Michael Cohen and campaign chairman Paul Manafort – have been convicted of crimes ranging from lying to the FBI to financial fraud.

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Demonstrators complete a loop of downtown during a nationwide protest following the resignation of attorney general Jeff Sessions and President Donald Trump's appointment of Matthew Whitaker at Piatt Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Sam Greene

Over one-hundred people attended a rally in front of Senator Chuck Schumer's local office in Peekskill, N.Y. calling for the protection of the Robert Mueller's investigation Nov. 8, 2018. The protest, which coincided with similar protests across the nation, came in the wake of President Trump's firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Seth Harrison/The Journal News

Over one-hundred people marched from Senator Chuck Schumer's local office in Peekskill to downtown Peekskill during a rally calling for the protection of the Robert Mueller's investigation Nov. 8, 2018. The protest, which coincided with similar protests across the nation, came in the wake of President Trump's firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Seth Harrison/The Journal News

Heather Wehrman, of Anderson Township, stands under a statue of William Henry Harrison with a sign calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump during a nationwide protest following the resignation of attorney general Jeff Sessions and Trump's appointment of Matthew Whitaker at Piatt Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Sam Greene

Demonstrators complete a loop of downtown during a nationwide protest following the resignation of attorney general Jeff Sessions and President Donald Trump's appointment of Matthew Whitaker at Piatt Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Sam Greene

Demonstrators complete a loop of downtown during a nationwide protest following the resignation of attorney general Jeff Sessions and President Donald Trump's appointment of Matthew Whitaker at Piatt Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018. Sam Greene

Protesters gather and hold banners in front of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, as part of a nationwide "Protect Mueller" campaign demanding that Acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker recuse himself from overseeing the ongoing special counsel investigation. Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP

People hold signs as they protest against the US president's alleged interference in the Robert Mueller investigation outside the White House in Washington, DC, on November 8, 2018. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images

People protest and march against US President Donald Trump's alleged interference in Robert Mueller investigation in New York City on November 8, 2018. - President Donald Trump was accused on November 8, 2018, of pushing America toward a constitutional crisis after his firing of the attorney general cast doubt over the future of an explosive probe into election collusion with Russian agents. Bryan R. Smith/Getty Images

People protest and march against US President Donald Trump's alleged interference in Robert Mueller investigation in New York City on November 8, 2018. - President Donald Trump was accused on November 8, 2018, of pushing America toward a constitutional crisis after his firing of the attorney general cast doubt over the future of an explosive probe into election collusion with Russian agents. Bryan R. Smith/Getty Images